Rohit Bhargava

Rohit Bhargava is a Professor in Bioengineering, Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering and serves as the Phillip and Ann Sharp Director of the Cancer Center at Illinois. Rohit graduated with a dual-degree B.Tech. (1996) from the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi and received a doctoral degree from Case Western Reserve University (2000) and held positions at the National Institutes of Health after graduation. He has been at Illinois as Assistant (2005-2011), Associate (2011-2012) and Full (2012-) Professor since. Rohit is widely recognized for his research on chemical imaging and advances in theory, instrumentation, and applications in cancer pathology. Current work in chemical imaging in his laboratory focuses on theoretical modeling that can push the limits of speed and quality of infrared spectroscopic imaging as well as its application in several novel areas. In particular,  Rohit’s group aims to recognize and subtype cancer by its underlying molecular characteristics, by chemical imaging and application of machine learning, ultimately allowing for better treatment of patients. His innovative teaching and mentoring has been consistently recognized by the success of his students. He conceived and currently directs of the Tissue Microenvironment training program supported by a T32 grant from the NIH. Rohit has also served to connect the research community in new and exciting ways to take on basic science and engineering questions that surround cancer. He was the first assistant professor hired into Illinois’ Bioengineering Department and played a key role in its development. He proposed the Cancer Center at Illinois - a basic science center at the convergence of engineering and oncology - and continues to serve as its Director.